‘Pathos”, Suggs calls it, when he talks about the bittersweet story of his life. Because the legendary Madness frontman, renowned for his comic capers, not only has a dark side, but one he’s happy to share with you. And what a story it is.

His new show not only divulges the “jolly japes” he got up to with Madness, but gives a poignant and deeply personal insight into the man himself, in particular his childhood.

The turning point is well catalogued: Suggs is sitting in the bath, the morning after his 50th birthday bash, hungover, when his cat crashes off a shelf and dies. It was his epiphany and Suggs pledged to find out what happened to his errant father and start delving into his past before it was too late.

The result is Suggs My Life Story, a tour which kicks off at the Playhouse tomorrow night. Suggs is keen to stress the show is not depressing. “I talk about some serious things but it’s not all doom and gloom. In fact, it’s the opposite really, but I just thought it had to have resonance rather than just being a romp through my showbiz career. That would be boring and anyway there are more important things in life. So now it’s all intertwined.

“And, overall, life has its ups and downs and I wanted it to be honest, above all; hence the title. So it’s funny, but dark in places, with music.”

So have his family seen the show? “Yes, I tested it in a pub in Islington for a few weeks and my kids, wife and mum came and it went down well. For me, it was terrifying but there were tears and laughter and they liked it. I think they were just amazed I could remember it, to be honest,” he laughs.

“But I’m really enjoying it, and I want the show to be a bit like a Madness concert, where you feel better when you come out than when you went in.” Pathos to the bitter sweet end.

Suggs My Life Story is tomorrow night at Oxford Playhouse. Box office on 01865 305305 (www.oxfordplayhouse.com)